Every year, the British publication EVO Magazine conduct a UHP summer tire test, with this years test covering the hugely popular 235/35 R19 tire size, on a VW Golf GTI. This year, due to travel restrictions, the handling testing was conducted at MIRA in the UK, rather than the Continental facility in Germany.

The EVO summer tire tests are particularly interesting as they're one of the few publications to really dig into the subjective handling of each tire on test, as what good is a fast tire if it's no fun to drive? This means, much like our own tests, the EVO test can help you understand which tire will give you not just the best grip, but the most driving enjoyment too.

As always, head over to the EVO website or locate EVO issue Dec 1st, pages 119-126 for the full details, or carry on reading to our summary below.

Dry

As usual, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S had a dry braking advantage, stopping the Golf in a slightly shorter distance than the second placed Continental SportContact 6.

Michelin carried this advantage through to dry handling, where it tied first with the Pirelli P Zero PZ4.

The Michelin also had the best subjective handling and made the lap feel easy, whereas the Pirelli felt great on lap one, but lost its edge on the second lap.

Wet

Michelin once again dominated wet braking, with a significant advantage over the group from 80 km/h.

Pirelli was fastest by nearly a second over the short wet handling lap, with Continental finishing last with the SportContact 6.

The Pirelli was also  the best subjective tire during wet handling, offering the best of everything, with good grip and balance.

The Michelin Pilot Sport PS4 S took another win in the wet circle test, posting the fastest time around the round track.

 The tires that struggled during the wet handling lap were also the tires with the lowest aquaplaning resistance, which isn't uncommon for MIRA.

Environment

Interestingly, the tire with the best subjective dry handling was also awarded the best subjective comfort. These are usually opposing design requirements.

The Contiental SportContact 6 had the lowest rolling resistance on test, in a very close group. Strangely, the Continental is one of "E" rated tires for the EU tire label rolling resistance category, beating all of the "C" rated.

Ignoring the strange price for the Dunlop, the Michelin took its usual position as the most expensive tire on test. Sadly, EVO didn't conduct any wear testing which is a category Michelin usually excels in, but in recent years Continental and Goodyear have caught up in.

Results

1st: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S
235/35 R19 EU Label: C/A/72 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 33.6 M 100% Dry Handling 1st 52.15 s 100% Subj. Dry Handling 1st 63 Points 100% Wet Braking 1st 26 M 100% Wet Handling 4th 46.8 s 46 s +0.8 s 98.29% Subj. Wet Handling 7th 54.5 Points 62 Points -7.5 Points 87.9% Wet Circle 1st 12.39 s 100% Straight Aqua 3rd 72 Km/H 74.4 Km/H -2.4 Km/H 96.77% Subj. Comfort 1st 25 Points 100% Price 6th 142 110 +32 77.46% Rolling Resistance 3rd 0.873 kg / t 0.831 kg / t +0.04 kg / t 95.19% The Pilot Sport 4 S was good in the wet and outstanding in the dry, setting the fastest dry lap time and topping our subjective ratings on track and on the road route, where it impressed with superb steering feel and feedback and ride comfort. A great tire that will improve the feel of your performance car. Read Reviews    Buy from £165.68
2nd: Continental Sport Contact 6
235/35 R19 EU Label: E/A/72 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 33.8 M 33.6 M +0.2 M 99.41% Dry Handling 5th 52.65 s 52.15 s +0.5 s 99.05% Subj. Dry Handling 2nd 61.5 Points 63 Points -1.5 Points 97.62% Wet Braking 2nd 27.7 M 26 M +1.7 M 93.86% Wet Handling 7th 48.5 s 46 s +2.5 s 94.85% Subj. Wet Handling 4th 56 Points 62 Points -6 Points 90.32% Wet Circle 6th 12.6 s 12.39 s +0.21 s 98.33% Straight Aqua 7th 71.5 Km/H 74.4 Km/H -2.9 Km/H 96.1% Subj. Comfort 2nd 24.5 Points 25 Points -0.5 Points 98% Price 5th 133 110 +23 82.71% Rolling Resistance 1st 0.831 kg / t 100% The SportContact 6 lacked corner traction in the wet, as is reflected in its slowest wet handling time and bottom-of-the-table aquaplaning results, but it was good elsewhere and subjectively was highly rated in the dry and on the road route for its steering feel, calm poise and decent refinement. Read Reviews    Buy from £142.99
3rd: Pirelli P Zero PZ4
235/35 R19 EU Label: E/A/71 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 34.1 M 33.6 M +0.5 M 98.53% Dry Handling 1st 52.15 s 100% Subj. Dry Handling 4th 57 Points 63 Points -6 Points 90.48% Wet Braking 4th 28.7 M 26 M +2.7 M 90.59% Wet Handling 1st 46 s 100% Subj. Wet Handling 1st 62 Points 100% Wet Circle 2nd 12.42 s 12.39 s +0.03 s 99.76% Straight Aqua 2nd 72.2 Km/H 74.4 Km/H -2.2 Km/H 97.04% Subj. Comfort 4th 22.5 Points 25 Points -2.5 Points 90% Price 3rd 124 110 +14 88.71% Rolling Resistance 7th 1.017 kg / t 0.831 kg / t +0.19 kg / t 81.71% The ‘PZ4’ P Zero was outstanding in the wet, setting the fastest time and feeling the most connected and grippy on the wet circuit, which it backed up with strong aquaplaning performances. It lacked the steering feel and feedback of the best but was good in the dry too, setting the equal fastest lap time. Read Reviews    Buy from £174.32
4th: Nokian PowerProof
235/35 R19 EU Label: C/A/72 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 5th 35.5 M 33.6 M +1.9 M 94.65% Dry Handling 6th 52.95 s 52.15 s +0.8 s 98.49% Subj. Dry Handling 5th 56 Points 63 Points -7 Points 88.89% Wet Braking 5th 28.8 M 26 M +2.8 M 90.28% Wet Handling 2nd 46.7 s 46 s +0.7 s 98.5% Subj. Wet Handling 3rd 56.5 Points 62 Points -5.5 Points 91.13% Wet Circle 4th 12.54 s 12.39 s +0.15 s 98.8% Straight Aqua 4th 71.8 Km/H 74.4 Km/H -2.6 Km/H 96.51% Subj. Comfort 3rd 23.5 Points 25 Points -1.5 Points 94% Price 1st 110 100% Rolling Resistance 4th 0.894 kg / t 0.831 kg / t +0.06 kg / t 92.95% A great result for the Powerproof. It’s not the most tactile or the sharpest steering here but it delivered strong performances in the wet, including equal second fastest on the wet track and good aquaplaning resistance. This it combines with decent everyday refinement and good value. Read Reviews
5th: Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport
235/35 R19 EU Label: E/A/72 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 4th 34.7 M 33.6 M +1.1 M 96.83% Dry Handling 3rd 52.5 s 52.15 s +0.35 s 99.33% Subj. Dry Handling 3rd 59 Points 63 Points -4 Points 93.65% Wet Braking 3rd 28 M 26 M +2 M 92.86% Wet Handling 2nd 46.7 s 46 s +0.7 s 98.5% Subj. Wet Handling 5th 55.5 Points 62 Points -6.5 Points 89.52% Wet Circle 2nd 12.42 s 12.39 s +0.03 s 99.76% Straight Aqua 6th 71.6 Km/H 74.4 Km/H -2.8 Km/H 96.24% Subj. Comfort 6th 22 Points 25 Points -3 Points 88% Price 4th 129 110 +19 85.27% Rolling Resistance 5th 0.917 kg / t 0.831 kg / t +0.09 kg / t 90.62% The Eagle F1 SuperSport had steering feel and feedback as good as the best, helping it achieve strong dry results. It delivered good objective wet performances too, but while its steering was outstanding its refinement was less good: on poor surfaces it was noisy and bumpy. Read Reviews    Buy from £139.87
6th: Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
235/35 R19 EU Label: C/A/72 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 6th 35.6 M 33.6 M +2 M 94.38% Dry Handling 7th 53.1 s 52.15 s +0.95 s 98.21% Subj. Dry Handling 5th 56 Points 63 Points -7 Points 88.89% Wet Braking 7th 30.1 M 26 M +4.1 M 86.38% Wet Handling 5th 47.2 s 46 s +1.2 s 97.46% Subj. Wet Handling 2nd 58.5 Points 62 Points -3.5 Points 94.35% Wet Circle 4th 12.54 s 12.39 s +0.15 s 98.8% Straight Aqua 1st 74.4 Km/H 100% Subj. Comfort 4th 22.5 Points 25 Points -2.5 Points 90% Price 7th 150 110 +40 73.33% Rolling Resistance 2nd 0.84 kg / t 0.831 kg / t +0.01 kg / t 98.93% By far the best in aquaplaning, the Sport Maxx RT2 was also highly rated on the wet handling circuit. It wasn’t as impressive in the dry though, being marginally the slowest on track and middle-ranked subjectively, and also marked down on the road for a lack of feel and refinement. Read Reviews    Buy from £129.60
7th: Vredestein Ultrac Vorti
235/35 R19 EU Label: E/B/70 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 7th 36.1 M 33.6 M +2.5 M 93.07% Dry Handling 3rd 52.5 s 52.15 s +0.35 s 99.33% Subj. Dry Handling 7th 53.5 Points 63 Points -9.5 Points 84.92% Wet Braking 6th 29.6 M 26 M +3.6 M 87.84% Wet Handling 6th 48 s 46 s +2 s 95.83% Subj. Wet Handling 6th 55 Points 62 Points -7 Points 88.71% Wet Circle 7th 12.71 s 12.39 s +0.32 s 97.48% Straight Aqua 5th 71.7 Km/H 74.4 Km/H -2.7 Km/H 96.37% Subj. Comfort 6th 22 Points 25 Points -3 Points 88% Price 2nd 119 110 +9 92.44% Rolling Resistance 6th 0.977 kg / t 0.831 kg / t +0.15 kg / t 85.06% The Ultra Vorti is a decent tire that showed well in the aquaplaning tests and set a good lap time on the dry circuit too. It was at or near the bottom of the table in many tests, though, and subjectively was noisy and lacked the connection of the best. It’s worth noting that an updated version is due in the new year. Read Reviews